Improvement in ships ventilators and fog-alarms



UNITED STATES PATENT EFIOE.

WILLIAM EITZ JAMES THIERS, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AsSIeNOR OE THREE.

EOURTHS OE HIS RIGHT TO MILTON o. JEFFERS, OE NEW YORK OITY,

EUGENE F. BEECHER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND AMELIAPITTS ARMSTRONG, OE NEW YORK OITY.- I

IMPROVEMENT INSHIPS VENTILATORS AND FOG-ALARMS.

Specification forming part of Lettere Patent No. l87,430, dated February 13, 1877 application filed June 30, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM FITz JAMES THIERS, ofthe city and county of New York, in the State of New York, doctor of medicine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ventilators and Fog-Alarms for Shipsand other oating craft, of which the following is a Specification:

The first part of the present invention consists in a simpleand efficient mechanical device, operating automatically, and without friction1 of solids, and at but small running expense, whereby ships and every other description of "iioating craft having deck and rudder can be perfectly and continuously ventilated by night and by day-,so long as they remain afloat, and'while lying at wharf, as

Well as when sailing.

The sameapparatus can be employed as an automatic fog-alarm, when so required.

The improved ventilator and alarm occupies no appreciable space on shipboard, and operates in combination with the water in which the vessel floats.

A tubular rudder, or a tubular attachment to an ordinary rudder, forms at that part of the most unobstructed access, a number of` air-cells extending downward below the lowest Water-line. In these cells the water works with exhaustive and propulsive force, alternately on the air contained in the tubes and their connections, suticient relative motion at all timesbeing insured by the said location of the tubes within or upon the rudder. The connections extend, through a suction valve, to one or more compartments of the vessel, and, through a discharge-valve, into the open air, the terminal end of the` discharge-pipe being provided with a fog-horn and controlling-valves, or adapted to receive such horn.

'The suction and discharge valves are constructed and arranged in peculiar manner, so as to operate automatically with the least possible resistance, and so as to be readily accessible at alltimes for inspection, cleansing, and adjustment.`

The improved ship-ventilator by its continuous automatic operation not only induces an abundant supply of fresh air and discharges the lighter or more accessible vitiated air, but it effectually removes, from the lowest depths and the most remote recesses of the hold or Steerage, the heavy foul :air arising from bilgevapor and the decay of` animal and vegetable matter, and the heated air and explosive gases froln cargoes. At the same time it removes all miasmatic and -mephitic vapors from noxious exhalations, with the iioating morbific germs of infectious or contagious diseases, such as Asiatic cholera, yellow fever,

ship-fever, small-pox, and their kindred vscourges; andthe apparatus is readily made to localize any such disease in the ship by simply making the hospital compartment or infected state-room a focal point from which the air is drawn. i

The second part of this invention consists in a deodorizing and disinfecting device, whereby the disease-gern1s and noxious odors in the removed air may be readily destroyed or neutralized in the most effective manner. The wind might otherwise return contagion to the ship, or Waft it to neighboring or passing vessels. or to the shore.

This device consists of one or more chainbers, combined with the dischargepipe orl the `suction-pipe, and adapted to receive chemicals, and t-o be heated as required. Besides the application of heat or the supply of suitable chemicals from time to time, when required, no attention to this part of the apparatus is needed.

In addition to the specific advantages above briefly referred to there are many other general advantages of the utmost sanitary and commercial importance, besides other special advantages which belong to the present invention, any detailed mention of which must be omitted for want of space.

Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal Section of a ship lprovided with a disinfectingventilator and fog-alarm illustrating this invention. 4 Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of vlarger scale. section ofthe rudder on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

l tion of one of the automatic air-valves.

the tubular rudder and its connections on a Fig. 4 represents a transverse Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal sec.- Fig. 6 represents a transverse section of the same on the line 6 6,' Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a. vertical longitudinal section of the disinfecting device. Figw is'a top view of the latter. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a portion of the discharge-pipe, showing the alarm-valves. Fig. l() is a top view of a substitute,swivel-connection for the air-pipes.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures. l'

The disinfecting ship-ventilator and fogalarm, which is the subject-matter of this invention, is applicable lto every description of nautical vessel or floating craft of sufficient size to require a ventilator, and need involve no alteration whatever in the structure of the vessel..

This apparatus, in a preferred form, consists of a tubular rudder, It, a pair of horizontal air-valves, V V2, a series of deodorizing and disint'ecting chambers, (J G2, and a fog-horn, H, with a suction-pipe, S, and a discharge-pipe, D, leadingto and from the rudder, and connecting the other parts. The tubular rudder R is composed of a system of metallic tubes, t t2 t3 t4, as large and as numerous as the proper dimensions of the rudder will permit, sccnrely united in one compact body, with a strong metallic sheathing, s. The main tubes t2 are vertical, with open lower ends extending down into the Water, and the entire internal Larea of these tubes, which make up the lower part of the rudder, is available for pumping air, and this is accomplished whenever the rudder rises or is depressed, and whenever a wave or swell causes the surface ofthe Water at the rudder to rise and fall. With six tubes of vonly one square inch water-area per tube six cubic-inches of air,less a small fraction,

are drawn through the suction-pipe or forced through the discharge-pipe .for every inch of variation in the height of tliewater-surface in the tubes. The variation is usually several inches every few seconds, and the operation sincessant. Abundant capacity `is consequently had.`

The front tube t constitutes the tiller-shaft. A horizontal tube, t3, unites all the vertical tubesfso that each ofthe outer pumping-tubes communicates at top with the tubular tillershaft, anda series of oblique tubes,.t4, connect the horizontal tube and tiller-shaft in the form ofdiagonal braces, serving also as additional conduits. p The number, shape, and arrangement of the tubes are not essential elements. )The employment of tubes square in cross-section, and all vertical, except a singleconnecting-tube, has been contemplated. Copper is considered the most suitable material for the rudder, but galvanized iron may, in some cases, be preferable. The parallel tubes mayk be brazed or soldered together throughout their length, and their union may be re-enforced by one or more strong metallic hoops or bands, which may, in some cases', take the place of the sheathing s. Ordinary rudders now in use may be converted by the attachment thereto of one or more pumpingtubes in any convenient and secure manner, but the employment of a substitute tubular rudder Vis preferred. The latter, besides lits special functions, possesses superior, strength and durability las a steering device.

The tubular rudder is intended to be attached to the rudder-post, or otherwise hung in` anyprdinary or approved manner, so as to have tle""required freedom of'motion under control of the tiller T. In the illustration a step-bearing is attached to the keel, and a collar to the deck below the tiller.

` The rudder-tubes must be connected to the suction and discharge pipesin such manner as to prevent any obstruction to the passage of air on the one hand, and to the motion of; the rudder on the other. Fig. 3) this is accomplished by providing the tubular tiller-shaft with lateral necks u n2.,

the tiller-shaft, and a T, k, leads therefrom l to the main pipes. The swivel maybe above the tiller or below the deck. Care mustbe taken to have all the joints in the rudder and connections air-tight. Pumping-tubes attached to ordinary rudders will be connected4 to the air-pipes by iiexible hose of suflicient length. The suction and discharge valves V V2, in the illustration, are precisely alike in construction. The former is shown in detail in Figs. 5' and 6. They are horizontal in position, and are rectangular in shape, having inlet and outlet necks io, the direction of which determines the operation of the individual valve.

In order to offer the least possible resistance to the air-column, a central oblique diaphragm, d, forms the valve-seat of each valve, and a sensitively-hinged flap, f, forms the valve proper. The orifice in the valveseat is made in line with the bore of the pipe, and of equal or greater area. The only resistance to be overcome in the valves is consequently that proportion of` the weight and friction of the light sensitively-hinged flaps, which is met in lifting them from an inclined to a horizontal position--say, twenty-five to forty-tive degrees-and in sustaining them in horizontal position during the passage of the air. It is of `the utmost importance thus to reduce as low as possible'theI requisite compression and attenuation of the air in the purnp- In the illustration (see the wharf, shall be effective, which is oneV of the chief objects of this invention. In order to enable the valves to be readily opened for inspection, and for the removal of accumulated dust, or the adjustment of the aps, should this be required, the top of each valve is formed by a removable cover, i', packed by an interposedgasket, or packing-strip, g, of rubber or leather, and held down by a central clamping-screw, c, working in a yoke, y, which embraces the valve, and can be slid off at one end when loosened. More than one screw, or a differentk fastening, can be employed, if preferred. Brass is proposed as a suitable metal for these valves, with platinum or equivalent non-corrosive metal for the flaps and valve-seats.

Thedeodorizing and disinfecting chambers" C G2, in the illustration, are adapted respectively to receive suitable chemicals in dry and in liquid state, the latter being provided with a sponge. The chamber G is also adapted for the application of heat, having a heatingchamber, C3, beneath it, supplied with a pair of lamps, L, which are removable through a door in the side. This chamber, as shown, has an undulating bottom, and a deflector to insure the contact of the disease-germs with thefchemical or heated plate; but these details are not considered essential, and heat can be applied in any preferred way. Removable plugs` p p2 give access for the supply of chemicals, and afterward seal the chambers. Copper is considered the most suitable material for forming these chambers.

rAn ordinary fog-horn, H, is represented, and the proposed'made of attaching it is illustrated in Fig. .9. A branch, d1, of the discharge-pipe .forming the main outlet, extends downward, and is provided with a stop-valve, a. A second branch, d2, having a stop-valve, b, extends toward the stern, and is coupled to the horn. Ordinarily the valve b is closed, and a is open. When an alarm is to be given, a is closed, and b is opened. In some cases a screw-thread at the extremity of the dischargepipe may provide for attaching a removable horn, the stopvalves and branches to be omitted.

The suction-pipe S in the illustration has branches sl extending into the hold, a branch, s2, extending into Va hospital compartment, and a branch, s3, extending into the Steerage. Stop-valves in all the branches or registers at their extremities will be employed, and with these it will be apparent that the entire effect of the apparatus may be concentrated at any given point.

A hospital compartment is shown to illustrate the utilization of this provision. If a case of contagious disease occurs on shipboard, the patientis at once isolated here, and this is rendered the focal point from which the ventilator with all its capacity constantly carries olf the fouler air. To supply the partial vacuum which is thus created, air iiows toward the hospital from every direction below decks, and in no case escapesy from it.

The suction-pipe may be extended to an infected ystate-room by rubber tubing. The direct spread of contagion is thus, prevented, and by the employment of the disinfectingchambers the germs of the disease are destroyed before they escape into the external atmosphere.

It may be desirable to locate these chambers in the hospital compartment, in which case they will form a part of the suction-pipe. In the illustration they form parts of the discharge-pipe, and with the valves are arranged at the stern of the vessel. These parts, which are the largest on shipboard, Vwill ordinarily not exceed three or four inches in width.

In smaller vessels the hospital and disinfecting devices will usually be omitted, when the suction-pipe may extend directly into the hold, and the discharge-pipe directly to one side at the stern, or as may be required or preferred.

The fog-horn attachment may also be entirely omitted in some cases.

Having described this my invention, the followingis what I claim as new, and desire t'o secure by Letters Patent, namely:

1. A rudder, having one or more air-tubes, with open lower ends, extending downward into the water, and connected at their upper ends to suction and discharge pipes, substantially as herein illustrated` and described.

2. A horizontal air-valve, having an oblique diaphragm, in combination with the suctionpipe or the discharge-pipe of a ship-ventilator, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

3. A horizontal air-valve, having a removal ble cover, giving access to the valve-seat and either compartment of the valve chamber, and secured by a yoke and a clamping-'screw or their equivalent, in combination with the suction-pipe or the discharge-pipe of a shipventilator, substantially as hereinA specified.

4. One or more deodorizing and disinfectin g chambers, in combination with the dischargepipe or the suction-pipe of a ship-ventilator, for the application of heat and chemicals, either or both, to destroy the germs of infectious and contagious diseases, and to neutralize foul odors, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

5. The combination of the tubular rudder R, the air-valves A A2, the discharge-pipe D, and a fog-horn, H, the latter attached to the said discharge-pipe by the branches d1 d2, having stop-valves a b, substantially asy herein specified, for sounding alarms, in the manner set forth.V

wM. Frr JAMES THIERS. Witnesses:

- JAs. L. EWIN,

JoNAs SoNNEBoRN. 

